TALE OF THE TAPE: FEB. 20

Saturday, Feb. 20, 7:00 p.m. Allstate Arena

Chicago and Rockford square off tonight in the latest installment of the Illinois Cup Lottery rivalry. The home team has won all 8 games this season, with 3 of those games extending past regulation (2 overtimes, 1 shootout).

Chicago pulled out a dramatic win in the last encounter between the teams on Jan. 30 – the last game before the All-Star Break. ANDRE BENOIT scored at 1:02 of overtime after ZACH O’BRIEN tied the contest with 5:28 left in regulation.

In terms of career scoring, PAT CANNONE and TY RATTIE have experienced the most success against the IceHogs. CANNONE has collected 18 points (5G, 13A) in 28 games and RATTIE has stockpiled 15 points (7G, 8A) in 26 contests.

The Wolves have dropped back-to-back home games (both to Iowa) for just the second time this season, but have yet to lose three straight at Allstate. The last time that occurred was last spring (March 14-19).

Chicago is in the midst of four home games in six days, which includes matinees against Charlotte on Sunday and Grand Rapids on Tuesday (School-Day Game).

By The Numbers

1.67: Chicago’s scoring average over the last nine games, during which time the Wolves have been outscored 32-15.

452: Total penalty minutes amassed during the first eight games between Chicago (205) and Rockford (247) this season. While the teams combined for 132 minutes on Dec. 19, not every game in the series has resulted in physicality. Only 7 penalties were called (for 14 minutes) on Jan. 2 and just six whistles were blown (12 minutes) on Jan. 30.

Player Spotlight

#8 Ty Rattie – Right Wing

One of the top 25 scorers in Wolves history, TY RATTIE ended a scoring drought on Thursday night when he scored his first goal since Dec. 21 (a span of 16 games) on a deflection in front of the net against the Iowa Wild.

Standing fifth in team scoring with 26 points (10G,16A), RATTIE skated alongside JEREMY WELSH and DMITRIJ JASKIN on Thursday, a line which figured in both Chicago goals.

RATTIE is averaging more than 1 point per game at the Allstate, generating 19 points (7G, 12A) in 18 games to lead the team in home scoring.

Player Spotlight

#28 Mark McNeill – Center

Rockford has dropped four of its last five games, but McNeill is tied for the team lead in scoring with 28 points, and has notched a point in 14 of his last 15 games. The 22-year-old first-round pick in 2011 spent his first full season with Rockford in 2013-14.

McNeill was one of two players to suit up for all 76 games in his first season with Rockford and he led the IceHogs with 23 goals during his second pro season.